Archive 20190609
Report on Travel for Europe
June 9, 2019
Koike.Masayuki
Before making a report, let me tell you my motto. That is: Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and while travelling I will not fail to watch even an ant.
From May 28th to June 3rd, my wife and I visited London and Venice. The reason why I chose London was my wife's words. "You've been studying English , but never been to any English-speaking country."
It was a personal travelling, not a package tour. The weather was good, people were kind and friendly and food was delicious, especially seafood in Venice. It was not so bad in London as I had heard of.
By the way, the carrier we took was British Airways from Kansai to Heathrow. All the cabin attendants seemed British and no Japanese. The entertainment facility was nice. The in-flight meal and drink were also good.
In heathrow Airport, I noticed a sign saying 'toilets.' I realized, "Oh, this is the British way of 'restroom.' The word 'toire' in Japanese came from British English."
Then we headed for the Underground station. We tried to get a ticket through a vending machine. When I put a note into the machine, it got stuck! Oh, my God!
I looked for a person in charge and finally found her. She said, "I can't handle this. I call someone." After a few minutes a man came, and said "I don't have a key, so I' ll call my boss." After several minutes, his boss came, and finally settled the matter. It took about 30 minutes to buy a ticket.
Underground in London was very small and dark, but I was glad because it was the very Underground that I watched in the movie of Winton Churchill last year.
It took about an hour from Heathrow to my destination, Russel Square. The station was troublesome, because there was no lift from the platform. We had to go up stairs, carrying suitcases.
The town of Russel Square was not modernised. It had the atmosphere of old England with much trees here and there. But people were smoking while walking! And we found much rubbish on the roads, which nowadays we do not see in Japan.
In the evening, We took a walk and dropped in a pub. We had bitter beer and 'Guiness' with fish and chips.
On the second day we went to Picadilly Circus. There weren't so many people as I had imagined. Next we walked to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of Guards. Then we went to Westminster Abbey. Many people were lining up, but we could get in without queuing, because we had already purchased tickets through internet at home in Japan.
When we got out there, it began to drizzle, which London is famous for. So we gave it up to get on the Ferris wheel, or kanransha, called London Eye. Instead, we got on a boat in River Thames, and got off at the pier of Tower Bridge. It was also a must-see-spot.
Then we hurried to Tower of London. The lady at the gate said, "It's already 4:30. we close at 5pm. The entrance fee isn't cheap, so, I recommend you to come here tomorrow, booking through the internet. Look at the website number on this brochure." She was so kind.
Next we dropped in King's Cross Station for the Platform No 9 3/4 which is famous for Harry Potter. My wife took a photo and bought some goods at the Harry Potter Shop.
Coming back to the hotel, I asked a person at the front desk. "Would you lend me a computer? I'd like to book the entry to Tower of London" "No "was the answer. So I tried with my smart phone, but in vain. At that time he came up to me, and said "I'll book for you." British people are so kind! I should have told him, "Would you please book for me?" instead of saying "Would you lend me your computer?" And I realized this is the case of some tip.
Next morning we visited Tower of London with tickets he kindly booked. In the afternoon, we visited the British Museum. There Japanese Manga was on exibition.
Then we hurried to the airport to take a plane to Venice. When we arrived at Marco Polo Airport after 2 hours flight, it was 11:45, midnight. We got on the bus for Venice. We were the only Japanese on the bus. After arriving at Venice island we walked to the hotel. As you know, there were no cars in Venice. It was a hard job to walk steps of a long bridge with luggage!
On the first day in Venice we went to MURANO island which is famous for Venetian glass. On the island I talked with a tourist from Montreal, Canada. After some talk he asked me "Every Japanese speaks English like you?" I replied, "Not everyone."
Next we went to BURANO island which is getting popularity for its colorful houses. We had lunch, the Pasta Black-ink, or Ika-sumi pasta. It was extremely delicious!
Back in the Venice island we got on the GONDORA, which we had not been able to seven years ago because of shower. This time we could be on board. Luckily, Indian tourists, 4 people, offered us to get on together. We could save 60 Euro. On the boat they told me, "Kobe is famous for steel, isn't it?" I replied, "Steel is not a big industry there any more."
At night we walked around the 'maze' or 'labyrinth' of Venice, doing Bahkaro' hopping. The Venetian way of Bahkaro hopping is to drink only one shot of wine called 'onpura' with a plate of appetizer called 'chiketti.'
Next day, we went to LIDO island which is famous for the Movie Festival where Kitano Takeshi got a prize several years ago.
On the last day when we got on the bus for the airport at 5 o'clock in the morning, the bus driver said, "This ticket is another comapanies'. It'll come at 5:40." "No way! I had bought wrong tickets yesterday." So I told the driver, "I'll buy your tickets." Otherwise, we might be late for the plane.
To sum up Venice, Venice was not the Venice as we felt seven years ago. At that time when we got in a shop, they used to say, "buon giorno or chiao!" But this time "hello!" Not interesting at all! Aren't we in Italy?!
Lastly, let me close the report by introducing shocking matter to me. On the Underground in London, when I was standing I was offered to be seated, twice, though I've never been in Japan!
Thank you. That's all for my report.